Tethered temperature sensor for use in rubber embedded applications

ABSTRACT

One general aspect includes a tethered temperature sensor for use within a vehicle track. The tethered temperature sensor includes one or more sensors for measuring temperature located in a high strain and high temperature region of the vehicle track. The sensor also includes circuitry configured to control and/or monitor the one or more sensors and located in a low strain and low temperature region of the vehicle track. The sensor also includes a housing to contain the circuitry. The sensor also includes an encapsulating material that fills an interior of the housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field to which the disclosure generally relates is rubber productsexposed to high temperature conditions, and in particular using tetheredtemperature sensors embedded in rubber products for temperaturemeasurement and monitoring of the rubber product.

BACKGROUND

Rubber products provide many benefits including traction, durability,repairability and the like when compared with other technologies.

However, rubber products can be susceptible to degradation due to hightemperatures and the like. Such temperatures can be based onenvironmental conditions or use. As a result, this degradation canresult to shortened product lifetime, failures and the like.

What is needed are techniques to monitor operating conditions of rubberproducts.

LIST OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a cut away view of a track in accordance with one or moreembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a sectional perspective and cut awayview of the track in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a tethered temperature sensor inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the electronic component in additionaldetail in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The field to which the disclosure generally relates is rubber productsexposed to high temperature conditions, and in particular using tetheredtemperature sensors embedded in rubber products for temperaturemeasurement and monitoring of the rubber product.

The following description of the variations is merely illustrative innature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure,its application, or uses. The description is presented herein solely forthe purpose of illustrating the various embodiments of the disclosureand should not be construed as a limitation to the scope andapplicability of the disclosure. In the summary of the disclosure andthis detailed description, each numerical value should be read once asmodified by the term “about” (unless already expressly so modified), andthen read again as not so modified unless otherwise indicated incontext. Also, in the summary of the disclosure and this detaileddescription, it should be understood that a value range listed ordescribed as being useful, suitable, or the like, is intended that anyand every value within the range, including the end points, is to beconsidered as having been stated. For example, “a range of from 1 to 10”is to be read as indicating each and every possible number along thecontinuum between about 1 and about 10. Thus, even if specific datapoints within the range, or even no data points within the range, areexplicitly identified or refer to only a few specific, it is to beunderstood that inventors appreciate and understand that any and alldata points within the range are to be considered to have beenspecified, and that inventors had possession of the entire range and allpoints within the range.

Unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive orand not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfiedby anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (ornot present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present),and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of concepts according to thedisclosure. This description should be read to include one or at leastone and the singular also includes the plural unless otherwise stated.

The terminology and phraseology used herein is for descriptive purposesand should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language such as“including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” or “involving,” andvariations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subjectmatter listed thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter notrecited.

Also, as used herein any references to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment.

As utilized herein, terms “component,” “system,” “interface,” and thelike are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, hardware,software (e.g., in execution), and/or firmware. For example, a componentcan be a processor, a process running on a processor, a controller, anobject, an executable, a program, a storage device, and/or a computerwith a processing device. By way of illustration, an application runningon a server and the server can also be a component. One or morecomponents can reside within a process, and a component can be localizedon one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. A setof elements or a set of other components can be described herein, inwhich the term “set” can be interpreted as “one or more.”

Further, these components can execute from various computer readablestorage media having various data structures stored thereon such as witha module, for example. The components can communicate via local and/orremote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or moredata packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with anothercomponent in a local system, distributed system, and/or across anetwork, such as, the Internet, a local area network, a wide areanetwork, or similar network with other systems via the signal).

As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specificfunctionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric orelectronic circuitry, in which the electric or electronic circuitry canbe operated by a software application or a firmware application executedby one or more processors. The one or more processors can be internal orexternal to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of thesoftware or firmware application. As yet another example, a componentcan be an apparatus that provides specific functionality throughelectronic components without mechanical parts; the electroniccomponents can include one or more processors therein to executesoftware and/or firmware that confer(s), at least in part, thefunctionality of the electronic components.

As used herein, the term “circuitry” may refer to, be part of, orinclude an Application Specific Integrated Circuit) ASIC (an electroniccircuit, a processor) shared, dedicated, or group), and/or memory)shared, dedicated, or group (that execute one or more software orfirmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitablehardware components that provide the described functionality. In someembodiments, the circuitry may be implemented in, or functionsassociated with the circuitry may be implemented by, one or moresoftware or firmware modules. In some embodiments, circuitry may includelogic, at least partially operable in hardware.

For some rubber products, such as rubber tracks, operating loadedequipment having rubber tracks driven or otherwise conveyed higherspeeds and on hard surfaces may result in significant heat build-upwithin the track, which may lead to track degradation, or evenultimately, track failure. In accordance with the disclosure, utilizinga temperature sensor to monitor the internal temperature of the trackand monitoring that temperature in the cab of the vehicle utilizing thissensor, proactive steps can be taken to avoid track degradation prior tothe temperature reaching a critical level for track degradation tooccur.

Some embodiments according to the disclosure include one or moretethered temperature sensors embedded into a rubber product, where thetethered temperature sensor includes a sensor component connected to anelectronic component. Generally, the electronic component and sensorcomponent are separated due to the temperature ranges the sensorcomponent would be exposed to, which may be temperatures values higherthan the survivability of the electronic circuit board and batteryincluded in the electronic component. Accordingly, the sensor componentis disposed in a high temperature region of the rubber product, whilethe electronic component disposed in a comparatively low temperatureregion of the same product. In some aspects, leads running between, andconnecting the sensor component to the electronic component may alsoperform as an antenna structure. In some aspects, the tetheredtemperature sensors include the electronic component secured andprotected in a suitable potting material, prior to being integrated intothe rubber product.

The tethered temperature sensors according to the disclosure may beincorporated into the rubber product by any suitable technique such asbuilding the rubber product with the tethered temperature sensor(s)provided in the rubber product prior to curing, or, in some otheraspects, integrating the tethered temperature sensor(s) into the rubberproduct after curing.

FIG. 1 is a cut away view of a track 100 in accordance with one or moreembodiments. FIG. 1 shows a sectional perspective and cut away view of atrack 100, which is one example of a rubber product in which someembodiments of the disclosure may be integrated. It is appreciated thatthe track 100 is provided for illustrative purposes and that suitablevariations are contemplated.

Track 100 includes a plurality of ground engaging lugs 106, located onboth sides of the track, as shown. The ground engaging lugs 106generally have a hot region 104 and cold region 102. Hot regions 104 aregenerally those portions of the track which encounter significantly hightemperature during operation of the vehicle propelling the track, forexample, temperatures of 150 degrees Celsius (C) and above, 170 deg C.and above, or even 190 deg C. and above.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a sectional perspective and cut awayview of the track 100 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 2shows the sectional perspective and cut away view of track 100 includingtethered temperature sensors embedded in track 100. FIG. 2 is providedfor illustrative purposes as an example and it is appreciated thatsuitable variations are contemplated.

The tethered temperature sensors include electronic component 210,sensor component 208, within a single ground engaging lug 106, and whichare connected by lead(s) 212. It is noted that electronic component 210,sensor component 208, and lead(s) 212 are contained within theindividual ground engaging lug 106, in the embodiment shown. In someaspects, the electronic component 210 is located where there is notdirect contact with wheels.

The temperature sensors that could be used in the tethered temperaturesensors, include thermocouples, thermistors, infrared sensors,resistance temperature detectors, s/c devices, and the like.

The tethered temperature sensors have capability of transmittingtemperature data to any suitable receiving apparatus, such as, but notlimited to, those disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 8,742,915B2, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein in it is entirety, byreference thereto. On example of a suitable temperature receivingapparatus is a Continental Tire Pressure Monitoring System havingtemperature monitoring capability. Some non-limiting examples oftransmitting modulations including AM, FM, FSM to optimize signaltransmission.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a tethered temperature sensor 300 inaccordance with one or more embodiments. In this example, the tetheredtemperature sensor 300 includes a potted electronic component 302 havingan electronic circuit board and battery therein. A plurality of leads304 (or otherwise electrical conductors) are connected to temperaturesensor component 308, and may also perform as an antenna structure. Insome aspects, the leads 304 are partially disposed in a temperatureprotecting sheath 306, where located in a hot region of a rubberproduct.

The temperature protecting sheath 306 can extend from the component 302to the sensor component 308. In another example, the sheath 306 extendsfrom the sensor component 308 until a distance from the electroniccomponent 302. In yet another example, the sheath 306 extends from theelectronic component until a second distance from the sensor component308.

The sensor component 308 is a temperature sensor. The sensor component308 can include one or a plurality of temperature sensors. Furthermore,the sensor component 308 can include other types of sensors in additionto and/or instead of temperature sensors such as, but not limited to,pressure sensor, humidity sensor, and the like.

The electronic component 302 can include a housing that at leastpartially encases and/or protects the electronic component 302. Thehousing has a material selected to mitigate temperature and/or strainfrom impacting the electronic component 302.

The electronic component 302 includes circuitry configured to obtainmeasurement information and the like from the sensor 308. The electroniccomponent 302 can also include other elements such as transceivers,antennas, signal processing circuitry, modulation circuitry, and thelike.

The electronic component 302 is typically positioned to be in a lowerstrain and/or lower temperature regions of the rubber product whereasthe sensor component 308 is located in a higher strain and/or highertemperature region of the rubber product. In one example, a lowertemperature region is a region that is less than about 150 degreesFahrenheit (F) during operational use of the rubber product. In anotherexample, a lower temperature region is a region that is less than about140 degrees F. during operation use of the rubber product. An example ofa lower strain region is a region having a strain less than about 100percent, 200 percent and the like. An example of a higher temperatureregion is a region that has a temperature exceeding 150 degrees F. Anexample of a higher strain region is a region having a strain levelgreater than about 200 percent or 300 percent. The higher strain regioncan also be a load bearing region, such as a load bearing tread of avehicle track.

In yet another example, the electronic component 302 is the component210 described above and can be positioned in the cold region 102. Thelead 304 is the leads 212 and the sensor component 308 is the sensorcomponent 208, which is positioned in the hot region 104.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the electronic component 302 inadditional detail in accordance with one or more embodiments. Thecomponent 302 can be used with the embodiments/examples shown in theabove figures. It is appreciated that suitable variations arecontemplated.

The component 302 includes a housing 406, circuitry 402, one or moretransceivers 404 and an encapsulating or potting material 408. Thehousing 406 is configured to protect the circuitry 402 and/or thetransceivers 404.

The electronic component 302 can also include other elements such as,antennas, signal processing circuitry, modulation circuitry, powerstorage, battery and the like.

The potting material 408 can be made of a ceramic type material orequivalent (to extend the life of a battery) where the potting materialhas been selected where the thermal conductivity is significantly lowerthen that of rubber and where a significantly lower thermal conductivematerial is used as a potting compound the internal sensor is mountedclose to the external surface of the potting material or the sensor isexposed to the outer shell via a thermally conductive metal strip.

It is appreciated that in some embodiments, methods or mechanisms forsaving battery life are used. For example, sensor activation may bebased on motion. Additionally, a supervisor beacon may be enabledallowing for security monitoring of the asset.

As described above, in some aspects, the electronic component and sensorcomponent are separated due to environmental conditional requirement fortemperature range, where the temperature sensor will be measuringtemperatures above the survivability of the electronic circuit board andbattery. Rigid durable packaging for the electronic may be used toprovide isolation from rubber strains, or even potted electronicpackages may also offer strain isolation while being able to handle thehigh stresses associated with application.

The leads, or otherwise conductive elements, are used to link theelectronic component to the temperature sensor component. In someaspects, linking the electronic component to the temperature sensorcomponent may be made by a connection such as a sine wave pattern ofwire, flexible conductive element(s), braided conductive element(s),rigid protected conductive element, and the like. Some examples offlexible conductive elements include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.9,452,892 and 6,352,149, the disclosures of which is incorporated hereinin their entirety, by reference thereto.

In some aspects of the disclosure, embodiments also providesurvivability of the high applied stresses during operation,survivability of sensors in the high strain areas during operation, oreven electronic component survivability at temperatures required to bemonitored. Additionally, reliable transmission of sensor data ispossible from electronics embedded in rubber, as well as proximity tometallic components of the rubber product and surrounding structure ofthe equipment. Additionally, some embodiments according to thedisclosure have the ability to provide temperature sensor andelectronics which survive molded and cured rubber product manufacturingprocesses. In some other aspects, reduction of battery requirements byusing regenerative technologies such as piezoelectric transducer, oreven use of pyroelectric devices to energize electronic circuits whentrack is in use, are possible advantages.

In addition to the track applications described above, embodiments ofthe disclosure may be integrated and used with other suitable rubberproducts, such as but not limited to, tires, conveyor belts, airsprings, molded products, high temperature hoses, and the like.Additionally, in some aspects, temperature measurements made inaccordance with the disclosure could be used to control a vehiclethrough a vehicle control module to slow the speed of, or even stop thevehicle, as a proactive measure. In some further aspects, systems maycapture an absolute threshold, or rate of rise in temperature, or bothto provide direct feedback to slow or stop the vehicle.

In one example, the remote sensor 308 is located directly under a wheeland or where the exposed pressure is enough to crush remote sensorcircuitry. The remote sensor is protected with a metal structure orequivalent as a sensor housing to mitigate or prevent damage to theremote sensor. An example of a suitable metal structure is a metalcylinder. It is appreciated that other structurers and the like thatprotect and/or mitigate crushing of the sensor 308 are contemplated.

In another example, a battery is used as a power source for theelectronics component 302. A potting material can be used to encase thebattery and/or circuitry. The potting material can be made of a ceramictype material or equivalent (to extend the life of the battery) wherethe potting material has been selected where the thermal conductivity issignificantly lower then that of rubber and where a significantly lowerthermal conductive material is used as a potting compound the internalsensor is mounted close to the external surface of the potting materialor the sensor is exposed to the outer shell via a thermally conductivemetal strip.

In another example, a hard epoxy, ceramic material and the like can beused to mitigate sheer as the tether/lead transitions from the hardepoxy or ceramic like material into the rubber a silicon or likematerial, which is introduced in the molding process at the boundary ofthe as the tether exits the mold.

In yet another example, to support the manufacture of theelectronics/circuitry of the electronics component 302, a pre-moldedthin walled cup is used to position and support the electronics and holda silicon like transition material. The epoxy or like material is pouredinto the cup with the electronics. The cup becomes part of theenclosure/housing.

In another example, a rubber material or the like is located around orsurrounds the temperature sensor 308 to facilitate conduction of heat(thermal energy) to the sensor 308 to assist accuracy and real timetemperature reading. In another example, a material is selected tosurround the sensor 308 based on a selected or desired time delay in thedetection of the temperature.

One general aspect includes a tethered temperature sensor for use withina vehicle track. The tethered temperature sensor also includes one ormore sensors for measuring temperature located in a high strain and hightemperature region of the vehicle track. The sensor also includescircuitry configured to control and/or monitor the one or more sensorsand located in a low strain and low temperature region of the vehicletrack. The sensor also includes a housing to contain the circuitry. Thesensor also includes an encapsulating material that fills an interior ofthe housing.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Thesensor may include a conductive tether configured to electricallyconnect the one or more sensors to the circuitry. The sensor, mayinclude a transceiver configured to transmit measured temperatures fromthe one or more sensors. The sensor may include one or more antennaconnected to the transceiver. The transceiver is configured to utilizeone or more communication protocols or standards selected from a groupmay include, radio frequency (RF), RFID, Bluetooth, Wifi, 4G and 5G. Thetransceiver is external to the housing. The transceiver is positionedwithin the housing. The transceiver is configured to transmit measuredtemperatures from the one or more sensors and the circuitry to a remotetracking system. The remote tracking system is configured to generate analert based on a selected alarm range of temperatures. The circuitry isconfigured to determine a track temperature of a tread portion of thetrack based on measurements of the one or more temperature sensors. Thecircuitry determines a track temperature based on an average of measuredtemperatures from the one or more temperature sensors over a timeperiod. The time period is selected from a range of 10 milliseconds (ms)to 60 seconds. The one or more sensors may include an integrated circuit(IC). The sensor may include a conductive tether embedded within therubber track and configured to connect to the one or more sensors. Theconductive tether is/can be configured to operate as an antenna. Theconductive tether is may include of a flexible conductive material andprovides at least 300 percent elongation. The one or more sensors mayinclude one or more thermistors. The sensor may include a power sourceconfigured to supply power for operation of the one or more sensors andthe circuitry. The power source is a battery. The power source isconfigured to passively provide power to the one or more sensors. Thecircuitry is configured to generate temperature over time and/or overdistance traveled.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. Example embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be sufficiently thorough, and willconvey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specificdetails are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices,and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of thedisclosure, but are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thedisclosure. It will be appreciated that it is within the scope of thedisclosure that individual elements or features of a particularembodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but,where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selectedembodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same mayalso be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Also, in some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-knowndevice structures, and well-known technologies are not described indetail. Further, it will be readily apparent to those of skill in theart that in the design, manufacture, and operation of apparatus toachieve that described in the disclosure, variations in apparatusdesign, construction, condition, erosion of components, gaps betweencomponents may present, for example.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguishone element, component, region, layer or section from another region,layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numericalterms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearlyindicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region,layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element,component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachingsof the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner”, “adjacent”, “outer,”“beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be usedherein for ease of description to describe one element or feature'srelationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in thefigures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been described indetail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible without materially departing fromthe teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as definedin the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tethered temperature sensor for use Within avehicle track, the sensor comprising: one or more sensors for measuringtemperature located in a high strain and high temperature region of thevehicle track; circuitry configured to control and/or monitor the one ormore sensors and located in a low strain and low temperature region ofthe vehicle track; a housing to contain the circuitry; an encapsulatingmaterial that fills an interior of the housing; a conductive tetherembedded within the rubber track and configured to connect to the one ormore sensors; and the conductive tether is comprised of a flexibleconductive material and provides at least 300 percent elongation.
 2. Thesensor of claim 1, the conductive tether configured to electricallyconnect the one or more sensors to the circuitry.
 3. The sensor of claim1, further comprising a transceiver configured to transmit measuredtemperatures from the one or more sensors.
 4. The sensor of claim 3,further comprising one or more antenna connected to the transceiver. 5.The sensor of claim 3, wherein the transceiver is configured to utilizeone or more communication protocols selected from a group comprising,radio frequency (RF), RFID, Bluetooth, WiFi, 4G and 5G.
 6. The sensor ofclaim 3, wherein the transceiver is external to the housing.
 7. Thesensor of claim 3, wherein the transceiver is positioned within thehousing.
 8. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the transceiver is configuredto transmit measured temperatures from the one or more sensors and thecircuitry to a remote tracking system.
 9. The sensor of claim 8, whereinthe remote tracking system is configured to generate an alert based on aselected alarm range of temperatures.
 10. The sensor of claim 1, whereinthe circuitry is configured to determine a track temperature of a treadportion of the track based measurements of the one or more temperaturesensors.
 11. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the circuitry determines atrack temperature based on an average of measured temperatures from theone or more temperature sensors over a time period.
 12. The sensor ofclaim 11, wherein the time period is selected from a range of 10milliseconds (ms) to 60 seconds.
 13. The sensor of claim 1, wherein theone or more sensors comprise an integrated circuit (IC).
 14. The sensorof claim 1, the flexible material comprises a plurality of flexibleconductive elements.
 15. The sensor of claim 1, the conductive tether isconfigured to operate as an antenna.
 16. The sensor of claim 1, thehousing is comprised of metal.
 17. The sensor of claim 1, wherein theone or more sensors comprise one or more thermistors.
 18. The sensor ofclaim 1, further comprising a power source configured to supply powerfor operation of the one or more sensors and the circuitry.
 19. Thesensor of claim 18, wherein the power source is a battery.
 20. Thesensor of claim 18, wherein the power source is configured to passivelyprovide power to the one or more sensors.
 21. The sensor of claim 1,wherein the circuitry is configured to generate temperature over timeand/or over distance traveled.